It's Time To Put A Stop To Ethical Lapses In The Military

Mr. Grossgold is a retired captain, U.S. Navy. Mr. Eich is a retired captain, U.S. Naval Reserve.

Whether in business, politics or athletics, society seems to be inundated by scandals, almost to the point that we don’t notice. Yet we take pause, justifiably, when a breakdown of ethics occurs in the military. Along with the pride we feel about the dedicated service and tremendous sacrifice of our society’s finest men and women, we maintain lofty expectations of their personal character. As Admiral Charles Larson, USN (ret.), said: “There is no feeling of outrage equal to that of a public shocked by scandal when members of the military fall short of the high standards expected of them.” Unfortunately, scandals in the military have recently been on the rise. Why is this happening and what can be done to stop them?

In our opinion, the greatest descent in recent years involved the sordid behavior of Army General David Petraeus. He was already out of the military when the story broke, but his infidelity toppled one of the most capable and respected leaders of our time. His resignation as Director of the CIA in November of 2012 deprived the nation of his valuable services, and demonstrated both the personal and public ramifications of personal scandal. For some high-ranking officials, success means being exempt from the rules and regulations that others, including subordinates, must follow.

The scandals buffeting the military, sexual and otherwise, are troubling, embarrassing and even dangerous, leaving not just blemishes in their wake but perhaps lasting scars. Consider allegations of cheating on proficiency examinations and illicit drug use among air force nuclear missile launch officers (ICBM force) and allegations of cheating among naval nuclear propulsion staff. Misappropriation of travel funds, bribery and the release of classified information in the issuing and execution of naval port contracts across Asia, and other forms of egregious personal behavior, have led to several top military officials being relieved of their commands.

Recent professional lapses suggest a decline in leadership competence and diligence, and these have led to loss of life and mission failure. Two generals, for example, were “sacked” late last year for failure to prevent a devastating attack on a NATO base in Afghanistan. And, an investigation is currently underway over the March shooting aboard the USS Mahan in Norfolk.

Even as we seek answers, it is important to remember that every day, the vast majority of our armed forces personnel uphold their sworn commitment to duty, honor and country at home and around the world. They stand ready to meet danger, and even death, in the defense of freedom, and they represent their country as ambassadors of good will. Regrettably, the many have been tarnished by the few, which is why this trend must be reversed, and fast. As is true with all organizations, leadership sets the tone.

The military draws its personnel, of course, from the general population. As has been true since the nation’s founding, this often means transforming recruits into disciplined, capable, warriors, who know what is expected of them both on and off the battlefield. To do this requires leadership at every level, and does not end with Boot Camp. Unfortunately, as we have seen, some of the very top leaders who are relied upon to set and enforce the standards have shamefully broken them.

The ethical challenge confronting the military is significant. Soldiers are trained to kill when necessary. They must do so precisely and without hesitation. They must possess the ability to selectively set aside societal norms once in battle, then immediately reinitiate them once the battle has ended. These life-or-death decisions are monumental ones to undertake, especially when you consider that many of these men and women are barely out of high school. There is simply no parallel in other professions.

The consequences of failing to reset the “civilized switch” can be significant. In January 2012 a YouTube video surfaced showing a group of our military snipers disrespecting the corpses of Taliban fighters that they had killed. Like the mistreatment of prisoners by American troops in the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, and the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, it is not just the obvious repulsiveness of the act that is of concern. Understandably, these incidents also caused a serious setback in the battle for the hearts and minds of the local populations. Successes achieved on the battlefield, for which soldiers paid the ultimate price, were erased by these shocking acts of barbarism.

Leaders who are involved with, or condone, this type of behavior should be held responsible. They should not be allowed to fade into the sunset, including retiring with full benefits. What kind of example does this set for our troops, as well as the rest of us? Our tax dollars should not go towards supporting this type of behavior. Leadership in Washington—regardless of your political affiliation—is dysfunctional enough. Let’s not make things worse by condoning and paying for, shameful behavior.

Real leaders stay in close contact with their troops, establish a culture of high integrity, genuinely encourage folks to speak up, identify and correct problems quickly and don’t look the other way when abuses surface. And, they never become complicit. Vigilance is expected of all military officer and enlisted personnel because lives and mission are at stake. Unfortunately, a sense of entitlement seems to have become prevalent among the ranks of some top military brass. Bad habits are addictive and if left unchecked will permeate the ranks, spreading like a malignant cancer. It’s often been said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We should not be surprised by these clear lapses of judgment, abuses of power or serious character flaws—we should be shocked. As the late Justice Louis D. Brandeis said, “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” It’s time to shine a light on these abuses, and demand that they end, once and for all. There are far too many outstanding men and women serving our country that deserve nothing less.

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